Fire extinguisher



July 31, 1928.

D. FAsUL.

' FIRE EXTINGUISHER me@ June 11, 1927 2 sneets-`sneer 1v A W j 7'1- f 2a 25- 30 I I az -16 1 a MNM. TNW u fmrig" v NNNNNIll m NN v//M \\\i 7/ ////jr A INVENTOR WE S D a/B/N/cw fksz/L am if (MVL/@Vb -v l/ u I ATTORNEY July 31, 192s.

D. FASUL FIRE EXTINGUISHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11. 1927 iNvENToR DoM/N/c'x Eqsf/L ATTORNEY Patented July. 3l, 1928.

UlSuTE-D STATES PATENT oral-"Ica DOMINICK FAsUL, oFNEW YORK, N. Y.

FIRE nx'rinGUIsHnR.`

vApplication led .Tune 11, 1927. Serial No. 198,099.

The present inventionis concerned with the provision `of an apparatus primarily adapted for use as a lire extinguisher, and especially designed for the rapid yextinction of fires which mayoecur in oil storage tanks.

The device is in the nature of a unitary some external heat-generator so that it willk `be in readiness for steam discharge as soon as it is placed over the tank.

Obviously, a device of this nature will be,

rather heavy, and the invention contemplates the provision of means for conveniently vhandling it, andifor shifting it from one tank to another where the tanks are arranged in rows. By this handling mea-ns the cap may also be dropped in place over a tire to generate steam before it is emplaced on the tank. In addition to its use as a fire extinguishing apparatus, the device of the present invention may also be used `to control the flow from a gushing oil "well, the `cap "being droppedin place over the. gusher and acting to conserve and distribute the oil which is rushing therefrom. j

Objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus of this character of simple, practical construction vvhich will be rugged, durable and eiiicient in use, easy to manipulate, and well suited to the requirementsrof economical manufacture and operation. lWith the abovenoted and other objects in view, the invention consists'in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements `of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter setv forth and pointed out in the claims.4 The inventionmay be more fully understood from the following description in connection with Vthe accompanying drawings, wherein-Q` Fig. l is a perspective 'view showing adevice ofthe present invention in proper position to be dropped over an oil tank.

through.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View there- 3 is a sectional 3-3 of Fig. l. y

Fig. 4c isa fragmentary vertical sectional plan view on theline view showing the cap being heated preparatory to its emplacement on a tank.'

' F ig. 5 is a5 diagrammatic View showing the lire extinguishing cap mounted to travel on a trolley extending above'a line of tanks. p VIn the drawings Ihave used lthe reference numeral 10 to-designate an oil storage tank,

yand `the numeral' 11 to indicate generally my improved fire extinguishing and steam generatlng cover. The cover is of approXimately conical formation having spa-ced concentric walls dening a. chan'iber Vclosedat its top and bottoni Awhich is adapted to serve as a water chamber, and' at its upperend is provided with a hollouT neck portion 12 adapted to be closed by a sliding plate. 18, thisplate being arranged in `guides or tracks 14 secured to the top ofthe cover.

lWater may be introduced into the chamber defined, by the spaced concentric walls of the cover through an inlet opening at 15, and a visible lindication of the 'water level in the chamber is afforded by'agauge glass 16. The chamber may be drained at any time through a drain cock 17.

Any desired number of radially disposed passageways 18 extend through the double v.Walled cap land'receive steam injector nozzles 19, these nozzles being borne'in plates 20 which sealthe-outer endsy of the passageways 18. Nozzles 19 are connected to steam lines 21 `which tap the water chamber 11, and which steam line-is provided with a controlling valve 22. f'

As best seen in Fig. 1,1 have arranged a series of steampipes near the upper end of the cover which tap the water chamber at points well above the normal 'water level therein, and have also shown a secondseries of steam pipes which tap the chamber ata point below lthe normal water level. These last pipes-of course `are not to be used until the water level lin the unit has been considerably reduced by the formation and discharge of considerable steam., j

Means must beV provided for bodilyl manipulating the cap 11 for simultaneously controlling the valves of the steam nozzle sets. Y Y j l i lVit-h thisy end in view, a trolley 25 is strung between a pair of masts 26 and afearriage 27 is caused 'to travel along the trolley by hauling lines 28. The cap 11 is provided with a bail portion 29 suspended from the carriage 27 by a line 30 so that the cap may be raised and lowered relatively to the carriage and dropped in position over a tank 10 after the carriage has been shifted the proper distance along the trolley.

The manipulating linesV may be conveniently controlled from an operators platform 31 on the mast A26 and preferably the valve operating chains 32 are also manipulated from this platform.

A chain 32 is associated with each set of steam pipe controlling valves 22, the chain encircling the cap .11, and being connected to all of the valve handles. Intermediate the valves, pulleys are provided to eliminate friction and to prevent slack in the chains.

As above suggested, ifa fire unexpectedly breaks out in the tank 10, the cap is quickly manipulated into position and dropped on to the tank. The heat from the blazing oil quickly generates steam in the cap, and by operating the chain 32 of the upper set of valves 22, this steam may be directed through the upper nozzles 19 into the tank, effectively smothering the llames. Due to the fact that the shell-like water chamber is comparatively thin, steam will be generated very quickly. In some instances it may be necessary to subsequently manipulate the lower valves 22, directing a. plurality of radial jets of steam from these valves into the tank to complete the operation of extinguishingr the lire. The shell is of course water cooled so that it will not burn out under the intense heat of the llames. f

In cases where a tank or a series of tanks,

are threatened with destruction by a near-by lire, the fire smothering cap may be kept in readiness for instant operation by dropping it on to a grate such as 35 in which a re is burning, thereby ,getting up steam in the cap which may be used as soon as lire breaks out in any of the tanks. It may be noted that the slide plate 13 is usually closed by a suitable manipulating line as soon as the steam jets are turned on.

As suggested above, another possible use for the device is to control the flow of oil from a gusher. To serve this purpose, the steam nozzles 19 are uncoupled and removed, and oil conducting pipes are screwed on to external nipples 4:1 which encircle kthe passageways 18. The cap with its flexible pipe lines may then be dropped over a gusher and the sliding top gradually forced to closed position so that all of the gushing oil will be directed to the pipe lines which are connected to the passageways 18.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement-ofthe parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do Vnot wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as yfairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

1. An .apparatus of the class described including a generally frusto conical cap including spaced conical walls, the space between the walls being adapted to serve as a steam and water chamber, said chamber being closed at its top and bottom, steam pipes tapping the chamber and steam nozzles connected to the steam pipes and discharging interiorly of the cap, the pipes tapping the outer wall of the cap, and the cap having passageways therein extending through said walls and space through which the nozzles project.

2.1111 apparatus of the class described including a generally frusto conical cap including spaced conical walls, the space between the walls being adapted to serve as a steam and water chamber, said chamber being closed at its top and bottom, steam pipes tapping the chamber and steam nozzles connected to the steam pipes and discharging interiorly of the cap, the pipes tapping the outer wall of the cap, and the cap having passageuf'ays therein extending through said walls and space through which the nozzles project, said nozzles including flanges closing the outer ends of the passageways to prevent the entrance of air therethrough.

3. An apparatus of the class described including a generally frusto conical cap including spaced concentric walls, the space between the walls being adapted to serve as a steam and water chamber, said chamber being closed at its top and bottom, steam pipes tapping the chamber, and steam nozzles connected to the steam pipes and dis charging interiorly of the cap, a valve controlling each steam pipe and means for simultaneously operating the valves comprising a flexible device encircling the cap and operatively connecting all of the valve stems.

4. An apparatus of the class described including a generally frusto conical cap including spaced concentric walls, the space between the walls being adapted to serve as a steam and water chamber, said chamber being closedat its top and bottom, steam pipes tapping the chamber, and steam nozzles connected to the steam pipes and discharging interiorly of the cap, a valve controlling each steam pipe and means for simultaneously operating the valves comprising a. flexible device encircling the cap and operatively connecting all of the valve stems, and a pulley arranged between the valves over which the flexible device runs.

5. A fire extinguishing cap for oil tanks Uli or the like including a generally rusto conical shell open at its upper end, and a slide plate for closing said opening, the shell including spaced concentric walls defining a chamber closed at'its top and bottom, and

cal shell open at its upper end, and a slide plate for closing said opening, the shell including spaced concentric walls defining a chamber closed at its top and bottom, and serving as a water container, and means for withdrawing steam generated in the shell and directing it inwardly under the shell, said means comprising a plurality of sets of exteriorly arranged steam off-take pipes, and inwardly discharging steam nozzles disposed in passageways extending through said walls and chamber.V

7. A tire extinguishing'cap for oil tanks or the like including a generally trusto conical shell open at its upper end, and aslide. plate for closing said opening, the shell including spaced concentric walls defining a chamber closed at its top and bottom, and serving as a water container, means for withdrawing steam generated in theshell and directing it inwardly under the shell, said means comprising a 'plurality of sets of eX- teriorly arranged steam off-take pipes, and inwardly discharging steam nozzles disposed in passageways extending through said walls and chamber, said sets being arranged at different elevations, and independently operating controlling valve means'associated with the dierent sets. A

8. The combination ywith a Vplurality of.

oil tanks arranged in a line with masts at opposite ends of the line, anda trolley strung between the masts, a carriage to travel on the trolley, and a rusto conical hollow walled hre-extinguishing cap hung from the carriage, the hollow walls of said cap constituting a steamV generating chamber, said cap including a sliding cover, and a plurality of valve controlled 'steam discharge pipes for conducting steam from thev chamber to the interior of the cap.

9. The combination with a plurality of oil tanks arranged in a line'with masts at opposite ends of theline, and a trolley strung between the masts, a carriage to travel on the trolley, and a frusto conical hollow walled lire-extinguishing cap hung from the carriage, the hollow walls `of said cap constituting a `steam generating chamber, said Cap `including a sliding cover, a

plurality of valve controlled steam discharge a pipes ior conducting .steam from the` chamber to the interior of the cap, and means Y controlled from one of the masts for causing the trolley to travel andfor raising and lowering the cap.

- 10. The combination with a plurality of' controlled from one of the masts for operatl ing t-he slidingcover and the valves.

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